Electric eye for automatically operating flushing valves



July 22, 1952 v L. BOKSER 2,603,794

mscmxc m: FORAUTQMATICALLY OPERATING FLUSHING VALVES Filed Jan. 21, 1949 t 2 SI-IEETS-Sl-IEET 1 inventor {any 8 4 0- (Ittorneg July 22; 1952 L. BoKsER 2,603,794

ELECTRIC EYE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING FLUSHING VALVES Filed Jan. 21, 1949 2 SI-1EETSSI'1EET 2 Snventor Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC EYE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING FLUS-HING VALVES Lewis Bokser, Philadelphia, Pa. Application January 21, 1949, Serial No. 11,913

V 2 Claims.

' The present invention has to do with the automatic operation of a flushing valve and is concerned primarily with an electric eye for causing such automatic operation.

At the presenttime, hand basins, urinalsand toilets'are installed in various public places foruse by the public. A hand basin ordinarily includes a valve which is manually operable to either turn the water on or off. Urinalsand toilets generally include a flushing valve which must be manually operated to cause the flushing thereof.

Many members of the public are reluctant to place their hands on the water valves of a hand basin or the flush valves of a toilet or urinal because of the very nature of the place whegein they are installed and the fact that other people have touched them previously. They are simply afraid of becoming contaminated or picking up almost any kind of germ.

There is another class of people who are very careless. They will walk away from a hand basin leaving the water running or they will walk away from a urinal or toilet without flushing it.' In either case, the ultimate result is highly unsatisfactory.

'In the case of urinals and toilets, attempt has been made to overcome these difiiculties by providing either foot operated flush valves or auto matic intermittent flushing which takes place at periodic intervals. The foot valves have not been proven to be satisfactory because it makes no provision for the careless and lazy person and evenemphasizes the tendency to walk awayv without flushing the urinal or toilet. In thecase of the automatic flushing at periodic intervals,

considerable water is wasted as there is a large course unnecessary wear. g

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has inv view as its foremost objective the provision of a valve for controlling the flow of water which is automatically operated by an electric eye or light beam.

. ore in detail, the invention has as an object amount of unnecessary flushing andthere is of the provision of a valve which controls 'the"flowf of water and the operation of which is in turn controlled by a light beam so that when the beam isinterrupted, the valve. is opened andthe flow of water started. When the interruption is-re moved and the beam completed, the valve is' closed and the flow of water stopped. vAn arrangement suchas this'isparticularly adapted for use in conjunction with ahand basin whereby aperson by merely coming-into the necessary proximit to the basin initiates the flow of water;

' and by leaving that proximity discontinues the ing side walls that; are fairly extensive.

flow of .water.

Particular objects. features, and advantages of the invention are tied up with the provision vof i the necessary electrical circuit which is affected by a light beam in the manner aforesaid.

Still another more detailed object of the in:

vention is the provision of a flush valve that is particularly adapted for use with a urinal and the operation of which is controlled by an ,elec-a tric eye or light beam. Ina preferred embodi-w ment interruption or breaking'of the beam has no effect on the valve, but when the beam is completed after the interruption the flush valve isurinal is located the beam is broken and completed, but this has no effecton the flush valve.

It is only when the person leaves the stall and the beamis broken and completed for the second time that the flush valve is operated. Particular ob jects and advantages of the invention are tied up,

with the provision of an electric circuit which is' controlled by a light beam so as to affect a flush valve to cause its operation on alternate 'inte'rruptions of the beam. Y

Innearly all public wash rooms, lavatoriesand similar places,.toilets are installed in booths have The present invention has in view as another highly important object the provisionof such a toilet including a flush valve together with a pair'oi."

light beams that are spaced apart at the entrance of the booth. When these beams are broken in a predetermined sequential order and only in that order, the flush valve is operated. The breaking of the beams in any other order will have no efiect on the flush valve. of the present invention is the provision of an electrical circuit for achieving this. end.

I-Various other moredetailed objects and adv ge 9 th i vent e e as ar in. 1- nection with carrying out the above noted ideas,

An important phase lation of Figure -3. V

in a practical embodiment will, in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a valve which may be of the flush type and which governs the fiow of water and which is automatically operated by an electrical circuit which is controlled by an electric eye or light beam.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view somewhat diagram:

matic and with parts broken away andv shown in section of an installation including a hand basin with the flow of water therein automatically conrepresented at 30.

trolled by an electric eye in accordance with the precepts of this invention.

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit and light beam which is used in conjunctio'n'with the installation of Figure l.

Figure 3-is a top plan view similar to Figure 1 of a urinal and the accompanyinginstallation, and which is automatically flushed when a light beam is completed after interruption.

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram of the electric;

circuit employedin conjunction'with the instal- F-igure 5 is another top plan view alternate interruptions of the light beam.

I Figure 6 is awiring diagram of the electrical.

circuitempl'oyed in conjunction with the installation of FigureS. r V

Figure l is another top plan view of a booth in which a toilet-is installed and the flush valve of which is controlled by a pair of light beams.

Figure 8 is a wiring diagramof the installation of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings-where like referenoe characters denote corresponding parts and first more particularly to Figure l, a wall of a public wash room is represented at H). Outstanding from this wall 10 are apair of partitions H and H which define a booth in which is located a hand basin [3 which preferably is mounted on the wall-I'll. Overhangingthe hand basin 131s a spout 14 through which water is adapted to flow from a supply line lfi'which includes avalve representedat l6. When the valve l-B- is opened, Water flows from the spout I4 into the basin l3 and when the valve lfi' is'closed, the flow of water is discontinued. 1 I

A light source is represented at H and is mounted in the partition-ll "so that the beam represented by the broken line 1-8 from the light source passes in front of the hand basin I 3 at an appropriatefdistance therefrom. This beaml8 impinges :on a photoelectric c'ell'designated11'9" which is mounted in the partition [2.

of a urinal which is positioned in a deepstall having extene siveside's. .Th'e urinal of this figure is flushed on:

' i A battery 3| is connected between the junction 24 and a line 32 which connects the cathode 29 with the ground 38. The battery 3| has its terminals arranged in the manner depicted by the plus and minus signs.

A solenoid is represented at 33 and is included in acircuit 34 which also includes another bat- The figureof a person is represented somewhat diagrammatically "at 20in Figure 1. When this" person 20 is in a po'sition'to use the hand-basin l3, thelight beam l-Bis interrupted. In accordance with this invention, this interruptionopens thejvalve 16 to cause water to flow out of "the spout 14. When the person represented'at2ll leavesthe position in front of the hand basin "I3,

the beam 18 is completed and hits the photoelectric cell 19 to close the valve [6.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2; the electriczcircuit forachi-eving this result is therein illustrated and will now be described; "It will be noted that the photoelectric cell-'-|9*is includes a plunger 39 which is valve I 6.

tery 35 having its terminals arranged in the manner indicated by the plus and minus signs. This circuit 34. is connected to the cathode .29 of the tube 25 on oneside and the anode of the tube 26 which other side.

,A-pair of power lines are presented at, LA and L2-respectively. A solenoid-3! is connected across the, power lines Li and L2, and it will be noted the connections include a switch 38 which is operated by the solenoid 33. The solenoid 31 nected to the valve l6;

Operation, Figures 1 and 2 age from'th'e junction 25 will ofiset the bias on' tube'2B and prevent the tube from discharging. It will be apparent .therefore that as soon as the'beam I8 is interrupted the tube 26 will discharge and as soon as the beam is reestablished, the tube will stop discharging.

When the tube 26 discharges itxcause's current 'to fiowthrough the circuit 34 and thus through This affects the switch 38 to the solenoid 33; close the latter, whereby the solenoid- 31 is energized and the When the tube -26'stop s-discharging, the solenoid 33 isdeenergized which opens the'swit-ch 38 and in turn deenergizesthe solenoid 31. This causes the plunger 31 to 'be'rnoved to close the valvelB A e T First modification "Referring now morefparticularly to Figures 3 and4, a wall 40 of, a, public room which ineludes urinals is therein illustrated. Outstanding from the wall '40 are "a pair of partitions 41' at i lfi'; and is mounted in the partition;42" so that it throws a beam of light depicted by the'broken line 4! across the'front-o'f' the urinal in spaced'relationthe-reto. Under normal'condi is represented at 36 on the operatively conplunger 39 caused. to open the" but-when the light beam is. again completed the-flush valve 45 is turned on for a predetermined period of time. This is accomplished by the electrical circuit represented in Figure 4.

The wiring diagram of Figure 4 includes exactly the same elements between the photoelectric cell 48 andv the actuated solenoid represented at 50 as are included in the circuit of Figure 2. Hence, each of these elements is given thesame reference character which appears in Figure 2 with the addition of the subscript a. The solenoid 50 actuates a plunger 5| which is operatively connected to a pair of knife blades 52 and 53. These blades are pivotally mounted and connected across the terminals of. a condenser 54. When the solenoid 50 is energized it raises the plunger 5|, whereby theblades 52 and 53 move upwardly and their free ends engage contacts 55 and 56, whereby the condenser 54 is connected across the terminals of a source of charging potential, such as the battery represented at 51. When the solenoid 50 is deenergized the armature 5| is moved downwardly causing a corresponding movement of the blades 52' and 53, whereby the free ends thereof disengage'the' contacts 55 and 56 and become engaged with contacts 58 and 59. This connects the condenser 54 across a biasing-resistor 6|) which has one end connected with the grid 6| of a tube'62. This tube 62 also includes a plate 63 which'is connected in circuit with a solenoid 64. j The tube 62 also includes a cathode 55 which is connected with the solenoid 54 through a battery 66 which has its terminals arranged in a manner represented by the plus and minus signs.

A biasing battery is represented at 6 1 and is effective to bias the tube 62. This battery 51 is in the circuit in the opposite direction to the biasing battery 22a. With this arrangement when the condenser 54 is in discharged condition the tube 62 will normally be'biased to cut off and will not discharge.

However, when the condenser 54 is charged and is then connected across the resistor 60, it will cause a current to flow through the resistor in the direction of the arrow and this will offset the negative bias of the battery 61 and cause the tube 62 to discharge. v The particular length of time that the tube 62 will remain discharging after the condenser 54 is connected across its terminals will be determined by the size of the condenser 54, the size of the charging battery 51, and the size of the biasing resistor 60. This time .period may be further regulated by the addition of an adjustable resistor shown at 68.

What is accomplished by the circuit of Figure ,4 is that when the beam 41 is broken nothing happens. However, when the beam is reestab' lished after breaking, the flush valve 45 is held open for a predetermined period.

Second modification In Figure 5, the urinal 43b is mounted on the wall 40b in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 3. Moreover, it is flushed by water coming from a conduit 44b under the influence of a flush valve 45b. On either side of the urinal 43b are partitions M1) and 42b which are appreciably;

longer than the partitions 4| and 42 of Figure 3.

Thus,,the beam 4'|b which is thrown from the. lightsourcev 4612 on to the photoelectric cell 48bis. spaced from the urinal 43b an appreciable distance.

This means. that when a person approaches the urinal 4312, the light beam will be broken and completed on entering the booth and again broken and completed on leaving, the booth.

Thus, the, flush valve 45b is to be operated'onl on alternate interruptions of the beam. j 1

. Referring now more particularly to Figure. 6,

script 11.

The solenoid 10 includes an armature I'll to which is pivotally connected a pawl 12 which engages: a rachet 13. Each time the solenoid!!! is energized the rachet-i=3 is advanced one tooth.

Operatively connected to the rachet l3 a cam l4'which-in turn is in operative engage-- denser 19 receivesa charge therefrom. When in the lower position, the switch blade 15 connects the condenser 13 across a biasing resistor 8| whichis connected to bias a tube 82. The latter includes a plate 83 which is connected in circuit withla solenoid 84having an armature 85 that is operatively connected to the flush valve 451).

The circuit. of Figure 5 also includes-a biasing battery at 86 and another battery 81 whichis included in the circuit of the solenoid 84, It is evident that in the circuit of: Fig-ure; 6,

when the beam 4lbis interrupted and then reestablished the condenser is chargedon the first interruption and givesup its charge following the next interruption of the beam. The circuit is thus operative when an individual passesthe light beam in one direction to preparethetripping circuit and when the individual passesin the opposite direction to release the tripping circuit. j

Third modification Figure 7 shows a toilet 90 as mounted in a booth defined by a wall 9| and partitions 92 and 93. Water for flushing the toilet 90 is conducted through a conduit 94 and is controlled by a flush valve 95.

I The partitions 92 and 93 are sufficiently extensive to accommodate two light beams which are spaced apart. One light source is represented at 96 as throwing a beam 91 on to a photoelectric cell 98. Another light source is represented at 99 as throwing a beam I00 on a photoelectric cell l 0|. It is intended that when the beams are broken in the order of 91 first and then I00, the flush valve will be turned on. If the beam Hill is first broken followed by interruption of the beam 91 as would occur when a person enters the booth, nothing happens. The wiring diagram of Figure 8 includes a solenoid I02 which corresponds to the solenoid 10 of Figure 6, the solenoid 33a of Figure 4 and solenoid 33 of Figsolenoid I02, they are exactly the sameelectrical elements which appear in thecorresponding circuits of Figures 2, Land 6. I These elements-are given the same referencecharacters with the subscript c. a

The circuit'of Figure 8 also includes another complete-set of these elements between the photoelectric cell WI and a solenoid I03 which" corresponds to thesolenoid I02. These elements are given the same reference characters with the subscript 11..

The two circuits between the cell 98 and solenoid-I02 on the one hand and cel1IOI and solenoid I03 on the other are interlocked by provid-' It will be noted thatthis armature for the sole-, noid' I03 which is designated I08 also includes av switch blade I09 whichis included inthe cir cuit 340 between the solenoid I02 and battery 35c.

OperatiomFigures 7 and 8- :A person entering the'booth'in Which'the" toilet, 90 is located will, of course, have interrupted both'of the beams I and '91. 'Upon leaving the booth, the beam 91 is first broken. Upon break ing this beam the relaytube 26c discharges and energizes solenoid I02 to'open switch blade I04, thereby preventing energization of the valve operating solenoid shown'at I I0. The time delay device I06 prevents immediate reclosing of the switch blade I04 'for a predetermined period. For'example, one half to one and one half minutes'. If howeverbeam I00 is broken before beam 91 as when entering the stall, then the relay tubeZBd operates to energize thesolenoid I03 which'closesblade I and opens blade I09. The closing of blade I05 completes the circuit to the solenoid H0 and thereby energizes it, and the time delay device I 01 will providefor a prede-' termined period of energization of the valve solenoid IIOif desired.

When'the solenoid I03 is energized the blade I09 is open and this prevents energization of the solenoid I02 when the beam 91 is inter- 8 rupte'dl It is obvious, therefore, that-the circuit of'Figure 8 is'an" arrangement providing spaced beams which if interrupted in one order. produce -no result, but if interrupted'in the 0 other order, energize the-valve solenoid- 'While preferred specific embodiments of the invention 'are -hereinbefore set forth, it is-to be clearly understood thatfthe-invention is not to be limited to the exact devices, circuits, and-electrical instrumentalities illustrated and described because'various'modifications of thesedetails maybe provided inputting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.- I 7 I What is claimed is: v v

1. In combination, anopen booth havingan end walland side walls, a urinal in said'booth mounted" on said end wall, a flush valve for said urinal, a light source mounted in one of said walls-adjacent 'the free edge thereof, and a photoelectric cell in the other of-said walls adjacent to the free edge thereof, said light source throwing a beam onto said photoelectric celland which beam is spaced an appreciable distance from said'urinaLand an electrical circuit in which saidphotoelectric cell is included andwhich circuit is operatively connected to said flush valve to cause operation thereof for a predetermined; period upon alternate interruptions of said beam. v I 2 In combination, a urinalincludinga flush valve, a light source andja photoelectric'cell arranged to provide alight beam spaced at appreciable distance in front of said urinal, and an electrical circuit in which'said'photoelectric cell is included and which circuit is operatively connected to said flush valve to cause opening there'- of for a predetermined period'upon alternate interruptions of said beam.

Lewis BOKSER,

' REFERENCES CITED Theifollcwing references a ea: record in the file ofthispatent: I

- JUNITED STATES 'PATENTS' Number Name Date 2,438,207 Derby j Mar. 23, 1948 p FOREIGN PATENTS I Number Country Date 493,200 Great Britain Oct-;*3, 1938 Great Britain Apr. 17, 1939 

